Friday, September 22, 2017

Dreams Really Do Come True at CT HorrorFest

Remember a couple weeks ago, when I said how excited I was about CT HorrorFest this year because two of my all-time favorite actors--Adrienne Barbeau and Tom Atkins--were going to be there?

Do you also remember when I told you that the character of Ray Atkins in the Woodsview Murders series was inspired by Tom Atkins' character from Night of the Creeps?

Do you?!!

You guys.

Look:

I don't think you understand how much meeting these two meant to me.

I adore Adrienne Barbeau, as she was in two of my favorite movies of all time, The Fog and Escape From New York, as well as Creepshow, Swamp Thing and the awesome TV show Maude. My favorite role of hers was Stevie Wayne, the local radio DJ in The Fog, though I’ve loved her in everything she’s been in.

Tom Atkins is a horror legend to me. He’s a Carpenter veteran, having done Escape From New York, The Fog and Halloween III for my favorite director/writer/producer. He was also in Creepshow, Maniac Cop, Two Evil Eyes, My Bloody Valentine 3D, and the amazing Night of the Creeps. Our Detective Ray Atkins is a love letter to Tom’s character Ray Cameron.

And Saturday I got to tell him that.

My morning began with meeting Tom and giving him my print proof of Harrowed after explaining how he inspired one of the main characters. He was amazingly gracious and said he couldn’t wait to read it, even asking me when we were going to make a movie out of it. I was so happy I almost cried.

But it gets better.

I went back later in the day and bought a Night of the Creeps poster from Tom, which he signed to Jolene and I. And then he took a picture with me as he held our book (which you can see above).

I don’t even have words for how happy this made me. When I stumbled away in a daze, he called me back to his table to make sure he had my email address so he could tell me what he thought of the book. And he also asked me to say hi to Jolene for him. I was almost in tears. In my wildest dreams, I couldn’t have imagined any of that. He was amazing and I am an even bigger fan of his than I was before. What an awesome guy.

I then has the good fortune to meet Adrienne Barbeau and get a picture with her as well. Just being able to tell her how much I’ve loved her work and how I’ve grown up with her was so great. And she was absolutely lovely.

I...don't even know what to say. It's been a week and I am still walking around in a fog (get it, because they were both in--never mind).

I have said this many times before, but I will keep saying it--CT HorrorFest is my favorite show of the year. Rob and Christine Caprilozzi are two amazing human beings, and their love of horror is so evident when you come to this show. Go support their Horror News Network site because they deserve it and it's awesome.

Saturday was a day I will remember for the rest of my life. Not only did I get to meet two legends, but I got to give one of my stories to a guy who has entertained me with his stories for over thirty years.